I really need your help! Just returned from a Holland America Cruise (Nieuw Amsterdam) where I won a $2K video poker jackpot (4,4s plus kicker, triple double bonus $1 machine). The casino manager told me "federal law" required them to file an IRS tax form, even though I won the money in international waters. I asked what the specific "federal law" was and they could not answer me. I refused to provide my SS# and they refused to pay me my $2K. This is NOT about me wanting to avoid paying taxes. I know full well I must report all income regardless of where I earned/won it. This IS about tax law and principle, however. I don't know what to do at this point and would very much appreciate your advice/opinion. I am out $2K and a new tax year is starting on top of that. Thanks for any help you can provide.

How is the shrimp farm doing? Are the hotels buying from them?

How and what is involved in getting a win/loss statements from casinos that you play at?

Sometime ago, some casinos experimented with providing food service at slot machines. I believe at least one downtown casino had tried it. But we never heard much more about that experience. Can you provide an update?

I read that William Redd, the founder of IGT, is known as "The Slot Machine King." What can you tell us about him and what he did to earn that accolade?

The "Death's Angel" Sunrise Hospital scandal -- Part II.

I noticed that "Las Vegas" was a trending topic on Twitter the other day and when I clicked through to see what people were talking about, one tweet was a random item from one of those "weird news"-type sites that was talking about some scandal in the early ’80s alleging staff in a Las Vegas hospital were suspended for taking bets on when patients would die! Urban myth, or is there any truth to this story? (Surely not?)

Do all the Caesars Entertainment hotels now charge an early check-in fee? I visit regularly, stay at their no-resort-fee hotels, and was surprised in December at Planet Hollywood that it was $25 to check in before noon and $15 from noon until 3:00 p.m. Are they trying to make up for the loss in resort fees that the MRI hotels are charging?

With the closing of Bill's Gamblin' Hall in early February 2013, what will happen with the shuttle service from Bill's to the Gold Coast and Orleans? Also, what will happen with the Tix4Tonight service that was at this location?

While playing Three Card Poker, I was dealt a flush, the dealer paid me, and I pulled the chips into my pile. Then, while the cocktail waitress was giving me a drink, the dealer said that he had paid me too much and wanted me to return $30. He said that he paid me for a straight when I had only a flush. I wasn't paying attention to the payoff because I was giving the cocktail waitress a tip, but I gave the $30 back to him. What's the rule about a dealer giving you too much money and then asking for the money back?